Dundee 4-0 Peterhead

Dundee proved too strong for Peterhead as they booked their place in the next round of the Scottish Communities League Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Dens Park.

First-half goals from Simon Ferry and Greg Stewart put Paul Hartley's side in the driving seat and the first-round tie was put beyond any doubt late in the second half with further goals from substitute Peter MacDonald and Luka Tankulic.

Jim McInally's newly-promoted League One side found it hard going against the Scottish Premiership new boys who nearly took a fourth-minute lead when Gary Harkins hit the crossbar.

The experienced midfielder played a one-two with Tankulic and, as the space opened up, shot from 16 yards but saw his effort hit the woodwork as visiting keeper Graeme Smith looked on.

Harkins had another golden opportunity in the 16th minute when Kevin Thomson's defence-splitting pass set him free, but the former Kilmarnock, Oldham and Partick man shot right at Smith.

However, the Tayside club only had to wait four more minutes to go ahead.

Tankulic surged into the box and saw his snap-shot saved by Smith, but Ferry netted the rebound from close range.

Dundee survived a scare on the half-hour when the part-time Blue Toon almost levelled.

James Stevenson's corner was met by Scott Ross whose bullet header looked destined for the net, only for Thomson to head off the line for Dundee to keep them in front.

At the other end, Thomas Konrad saw his downward header from Harkins' corner deflected wide as the hosts sought to increase their lead.

Dundee did make it 2-0 right on the interval when Paul McGowan slipped in new-boy Stewart and he made no mistake with his powerful 12-yard finish past Smith.

Dundee defender Kyle Benedictus almost gifted Peterhead a way back into the tie just after the break.

Benedictus' pass was intercepted by Jamie Redman who quickly fed Andy Rogers, and his cross was turned just over the bar by Rory McAllister as the hosts breathed a sigh of relief.

But any thoughts the visitors had of a comeback were killed off in the 78th minutes when substitute MacDonald rose unchallenged to nod home Tankulic's header at the back post.

And four minutes Tankulic rounded things off with a well-taken eight-yard finish from Harkins' deft cross, to put them on a high going into next weekend's Premiership curtain-raiser against Kilmarnock.